So it is the start of a new year and if you are like most people, you think through things you want to improve or change about the direction your life is taking. Some may even write a note of commitment to help them stay focused on the new behavioral changes they hope to make. This seems obvious for individual behavior but is it as obvious and commonplace for most small businesses. How many of the owners and senior managers of independent businesses take time to seriously evaluate the past year and then actively plan how to make the new year more successful? My guess is not many. Businesses that do not use the past as a means to understand their successes/failures and or their strengths/weaknesses are destined for mediocrity. I am not advocating some large multi-layered and time consuming process but simply, an honest appraisal.
Ask of yourself or business any or all of these questions:
- What would I do differently or not at all that would have made for a better 2007?
- What should I have done or do more often that would have made for a better 2007?
- What problem do I need to solve in order to be more successful in 2008?
- What actions do I need to take to solve this problem?
- What opportunity do I need to create in order to be more successful in 2008?
- What actions do I need to take to bring this opportunity to our door step?
These are very basic questions that on some level we ask of ourselves each and every year. Isn't obvious then that we should ask about our businesses?
Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous 2008
